Support for semitrailers



C. G. SEYFERTH SUPPORT FOR SEMITRAILERS sept. 19, 195o Filed June 14, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 19, 1950 c. G. sEYFERTH 2,523,152

SUPPORT FOR SEMITRAILERS Filed June 14, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FTE. 5.

l N VEN TOR. Car/ G Seife/#7 Sept' `19 1950 c. GQSEYFERTH 2,523,152

SUPPORT FoR SEMITRAILERS Filed June 14, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Car/ G. Jay/@f'/y C. G. SEYFERTH SUPPORT FOR SEMITRAILERS Sept. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1945 Illlllllll i Filed June 14, 1945 Sept. `19, 1950 c. G. SEYFERTH 2,523,152

SUPPORT FOR SEMITRAILERS 5' Sheets-Sheet 5 FUE-.10.

FII- T 1E.

INVENTOR. Caf/ Jay/@rfb jatentecik Sept. 1,793, 1195 2,523,152.k SUPPORT Fon siziinzr'milLERs` `Carl G. Seyferth, Muskegon,nMicho., assigno'r to West Michigan Steel liou'n'dryV Company,'Mus-'. kegon, Mich., a corporationjof .Michigan Application Juno 14,1945-,-sria1 o; 599,355 A This invention relates to supports for semio trailers.

AsisA well known the `semi-,trailer is a vehicle having road wheels to those versed in the art i .speciallydesigned forma particular job, yetwithout'departing from standardization of structure and of `manufacture. There` are various types ,,of'semitrailers including, lowbedtrailers de- ,.signed for haulingfsuch things as machinery and the like; a type of trailer, for example, as a furinituregvan, whichohas a relatively low frame or 4body; trailers for ymotorfreight; Atrailers with 4,tank bodies for haulinggasoline or oil for other liquids trailers with 4drop frames kwherein o, the `drop oroffset varies; and frameless trailers. ,Obvious1y, 2such variation in semi-trailers reguire variation in lthe supports therefor. Some of the controlling factors are theheight and `v's'lidth'as w'ellfalso..` asl the available rneans `to wwhich the support/may be attached. f

. A `Accordingly, semi-trailer supports have to be designed or engineeredv for a partculartype of trailer or, in other words, designed for the job. The .present invention provides a supporting structure where this can be done without, however, departing `from standardized construction andI manufacture. "'Ifo thisend, th-e various parts of the support are" readily detachable from each" other .andamios assembled with 'other v parts of different di'rlnensions.V All of the mechanical or 'functioning parts 'which may be termed wearing parts, are interchangeable with other elements oithe support, vand the construction makes the various elements accessible and easily serviced.v For example, a leg ofthe support constitutes a unit which may be used with another leg and can be interchanged with brackets and braces, etc., of different dimensions; Moreover, a supporting legis comprised of standardized parts, whose length can be changedeasily by `merely varying the lengthuof an intermediate partl thereof. The leg structures very largely ingfra'mes and with'frameless trailers.

6 claims. (01:,254--st-)loV mention also" aims to provide i'm groundrengfaging: structure comprised of "a pair: of ground.' engaging elements, s'u'ch` as wheels or rollers, with an improved equalizingA arrangement which gives'` a.; universal action so vthattheitwoi-elem'ents may adapt and adjust themselvesfto'iroad irregularities. A further ob,- ject-isl-trrlprovide anoperating mechanism for raising `and"lowering the legs of` the support .by `means ofv a selectedA ratio ino-ordery to provide'for `fast `or slow-brnovernent, relatively, and to provide, wherew'necessary, a high mechanical ...ad- Vantage.r i, d

`These:andothe'r objectswillbe better understoodwas theyv arebrought outY in the' following detailed description. 4

Supporting'structures builtin accordance with the invention are showin `in` the vaccompanying 'drawings parts out away :andiother parts` insection show-y Aing-l-oa.- support constructed in accordance with 'Figli isi a'general `elevational View Withsome theV invention..`

Fig. 2fis arr-enlarged' sectional .View showing the-Yequalizingarrangement for` the ground engaging elements. -=Fig. 3*' islanenlarged.` detail view with parts in sectionashowin'g, thx-g4 operating nut and telescopfingiarrangementora supporting leg.

r Fig. 4 Vis a sectional".viewotaken substantially onlinexll'f-'d of Fig. 3 showing the screwandnut adjusting means. ,o 1 Fig.` .5 iscaf composite cross sectional view taken Zthroughlthe leg` and showingthe keying arrange@ ment andtscrew `and nut construction. l

Fig.j6isva side' `elevational Vview of the support Figlois a partial elevational view showing a fmodied arrangement.`

Fig. 8 isa pfartial `elevational view illustrating 4the support adapted toalframele'ss-type of trailer. u Fig. 9 iis a view of'aformof the invention which embodies :alA multiple speed control for adjusting the-support.' Y o l Fig; 10 isla view .largely in section illustrating they powertransmitting means-for the variabl spe'edf arrangementllustrated in Fig. 9.1 .`Fig. 111:.is`.a` horizontal view with the casing cut away and illustrating; the l transmission.

Fig. 12F isa-sectional view. taken substantially on line I2--l2 of Fig. l1. l l v \-Irr`Fig.\-h1,..two channel. members I and 2 fare illustrated, these representingthe main frame portions ofsa"y semi-trailerY andy a` suitable cross contain the functioning or operating mechanism memberfofthe 'frame is shown atl3; The legs of `so`that the mechanism may constitute a part of thesup'portf are attachedfotothe trailer fram'eoand the leg unit. Furthermore, the construction is as shown, one legis attached to` each frame'memarranged so that the legs may be reversed with ber and the legs are'position'edon the outside sur# respect to their mounting to the serni-trailer thus facesothe frame. Usually, the trailer body has adapting thestructure for use' with trailers hav 60 a width considerably more thang4 the widthof-the :frameY so that the' bodypverbangs .thefs'pporting legs. Inasmuch as the two legs of the support are of the same construction a description of one will suffice.

The fixed portion of each leg of the support comprises three basic elements. These are the top or head piece 5, the lower end piece or sleeve 6 and an intermediate tube or pipe 1. The ends of the pipe are preferably welded to the elements and 6 and the elements 5 and 6 are preferably steel castings. It will be noted that the upper end of the pipe has a telescoping fit within the head piece 5 and that the lower end of the pipe has a telescoping i'lt outside of the piece 6. This telescoping arrangement makes for increased strength. It will be observed, therefore, that the fixed leg portions may be easily varied as to height by the mere selection of the desired length of pipe.

u The head piece 5 constitutes a housing and it has a flange 8 which is riveted, bolted or otherwise secured to the frame. Journalled in the vhousing on one side of the frame is a shaft I0, vand mounted thereon is a gear II` preferably in `the form of a bevelled pinion. The housing has a web I2, journalled in which is a screw I3 through the means of a suitable thrust and radial bearings I4 and I5 and which are preferably antifriction bearings. Keyed to the screw is a bevelled gear I6, the teeth of which mesh with the gear II.

' As will be noted by reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the screw I3 depends within the pipe 1. The adjustable part of each leg is in the form of a tube or pipe I8 which has a telescoping t with the sleeve 6. To this end the casting 6 has an axial extent sufficient to provide the desired stability. The lower end of the adjustable section I8 is provided with suitable ground engaging devices such, for example, as the two wheels or rollers I9 and 20.

' A novel arrangement is provided for establishing an operable connection between the screw I3 and the adjustable section of the leg, and this is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The leg section` I8 is formed With two opposite openings 22 f and a simple nut, preferably in the form of a lforging as illustrated at 23, is positioned in these application of the threading tool to the nut it is preferably flattened as at 24 and 25. In order to hold the nut against endwise movement, and to take the force of any such movement off the screw I3, a washer 26 is placed over the screw and it may merely rest upon the nut. This washer has a nice running fit both with the screw and with the interior of the pipe. It will be seen, therefore, that While the screw is free to rotate without disturbing the washer that any lateral movement is prevented because of the fit of the washer within the tubular leg section.

f A suitable laterally extending bracket 36 is attached to one housing 5 and it supports an operating shaft 3l designed to receive an operating crank 32 arranged for manual manipulation. This crank, as illustrated at 33, may be attached to the shaft so that it may be applied thereto for turning the same or folded with respect thereto while the vehicle is in transit. When the handle is folded it may be hooked into a retaining device 34. Thedetails of this handlemounting are simple and insofar as this invention is concerned needs no further description. The shaft 3I and shaft I0 are coupled together as at 35. It will be apparent that turning of the crank causes a rotation of the screw and a reciprocal `movement of the adjustable section of the leg.

As shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the legs are in extended or supporting position; the dotted lines show one leg substantially in fully elevated or retracted position.

The leg on the opposite side of the vehicle, as above mentioned, is of the same construction except that the operating shaft I0 and operating crank structure is not applied to the upper housing. There is a cross Shaft 31 coupled to the shaft IIl as illustrated, and to a stub shaft 38 in the housing at the opposite side of the trailer. On this stub shaft is a bevelled gear I I, the teeth of which mesh with a bevelled gear I6 for operating the shaft I3 in that leg.

Suitable bracing elements are preferably employed. An important bracing element is the rearwardly extending angular brace illustrated in Fig. 6. This is in the form of a tube 40 provided with a bracket 4I at one end for attachment'to the frame and secured at its opposite end to the intermediate casting 6. For this purpose the casting 6 preferably has a boss 42 for receiving the angular support 40. -It will be observed that this angle construction may be easily varied as to length to accommodate the structure in different assemblies.

Other supports are illustrated inFig, 1, such as the angular cross vsupports 45 and 46. The

f same bracket may be employed for these supports as the support shown in Fig. 6, the brackets 4I being attached to the frame cross piece 3. The supports 45 and 46 may be provided with a suitable cleVis arrangement 41 for attachment to lugs 48 on the castings 6. "As shown in Fig. l there is also a transverse support 49 directly connecting the castings 6. It Will be noted that this construction is flexible in that various lengths of supports may be provided by different lengths of tubular members. Moreover, in some cases, some of these cross supports may be dispensed with as, for example, as illustrated in Fig. '1, where there is a cross support 5I). In this form the support 56 is a tube, the ends of which are mounted in fittings 5I secured to the leg section 1 preferably by Welding.

Key means is provided for keying the two leg sections together against rotation yet permitting relative axial movement. This construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The boss 42 of the casting 6 is provided with a portion 53 which is internally threaded for the reception of a nut 54. This nut has a partly spherical recess in it for the reception of a ball 55 and the tubular leg section I8 has a groove 56 for the ball. Thus, there is a rolling action when the leg sections are reciprocated relative to each other to facilitate ease of movement. The nut is preferably provided with two cross slots positioned at to each other, as illustrated, for the reception of a key 51. This nut may be adjusted to accommodate for wear and it may be adjusted in increments of 90.

The equalizing arrangement for the ground engaging wheels is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. A housing member 60 is Welded to the lower end of the tube I8 and detachably secured to the housing member is a cap 6I. The housing member and cap provide a casing or housing for a assen-a body-off resilient-material; auch asethic!!` 9i rubbervf. i This blockofyrubben referably formed socias to leave voids-onspaces nt, thus providing` .spaeefinto whiehzthe rubhertmev flow when flexed. vvThe block may be natural or; synthetic rubber. There .is an axle, .advantageously inthe form of a-tube as ,illustrated -at `lily/rlich extends through the housing and ,throuehtthe i rubber bloclgand the wheelsglil` andZUaremounted on thisiiaxle througrhithe-imeansof `their hubs or bushings;v 66.` -Theax1e has rai-.clearance as at 61 with, the housingbutv is snuglyeengaged by the rubberfblock. The exterior surface i of the housing aroundthe clearance apertures `6l is of partly spherical formation asV shown at Stand washerlikecaps 69 engage `the spherical jsurfaces and thus close thev apertures -togkeep out dust, dir-t and"` other extraneous material. The. parts are held in assembly "by a bolt 1,0 which extends through the, tubular-axle. -A` sortof washer or "hllbca-p` 'Itis engaged by the head of the bolt and asimilar Washenor hub piece 'l2 is engaged `gages the *axle '65. Under .normal` conditions the parts take ag position as substantially illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2. Irregularities in'the roadway, however, may cause a tipping Yor angular dispositionv-of the axle whichis permitted by fthe vresilienoeof the rubber whichgwhen subjectedV to suc-h forces may change its shape and flow :int thespaces-IB3. y

.Inlthe modified,arrangement shown in Figr, theo. structure Aabove described is applied .to a

" frameless-type `of' vehicle body whereinthesides otthe body, as illustrated at 15,.are spaced apart a .greater .distance :th-'an .-tl'ieframe element I .and 2. This .is accomplished by reversing the position of\ the supports. In this connection, the

housing elements 5 have their anges y8 facing outwardly and they lie-against Vthe inside faces of the trailer .body parts F15. The structure is otherwise the :samefand the'. same reference characters .are applied. It will be noted, however, that due to -the increased width'of "the construction shown `irlige'ig. Bftl'lat the extending bracket 30 and associated parts need not be employed. To the contrary, the handle 32 may be lapplied directly to the shaftlfl. This construction may require longer/angle braces 45 and 45j. Also note, in Fig. Spthatzthe cross brace as illustrated at '491m Fig. 1; is not employed. This has nothing todo particularly with the fact that Fig. f8` shows a, `framelesstrai-ler but illustrates how the :support-'may be used without such a cross brace.

^ In Eigs. i9 to 12, a form isfshown where different :speed-soin the control is lprovided. `For the most part, the supporting `structure is tthe same aswthat` above `described and like `parts `bear the like reference characters. Infthis form, howg ever, :the head or top casting construction .of

one 'leg lisfvaried as illustrated 'at 80, and Vit pro- A vides a housing or case for a gear change transmission.` The output shaft of the transmission is `illustrated at 10a. and the. drive'.-pi'nions.may` be s vthe same as thosepreviously describedl and have the same reference characters, namelygll and .lapplied thereto. 4. f

. As shown in Fig. 11 the outputshaft hasftwo gears thereon which maybe constructed las ya gear` cluster, one gear being, illustrated at -8I1 and the other at, 82. The input shaft or driveshaft is illustrated `at 84. It is journalled in the housev ing in apposition preferably displaced fromthe horizontal plane-of shaft ia vto reduce thegwidth of the transmission, and yon the shaft Mis a; gear 8,5.2for mating the gear V82 and a gear 86 for mat-4 ingl with {gear-8l'. A suitablebracket 81 may be attached tothe housing for supporting the crank shaft 88.. associated with a` suitable crank 89. l A shifter control shaft 99, formed with a handle 9| is slidablymounted in the housing and it has a yoke 92 which engages over the` gear.` 85. .In the,` position shown in Fig. 11, the larger gear .85, has itsv teeth in mesh with a smaller gear zon. the4 shaft Illa. By shifting` the rod 90 to theleft as thegure is viewed, or to substantially the dot ted line position, the gears 82 and 85 arefmo'vedf out offmesh and thevgears` 88 and 8l are moved' into mesh. For thispurpose, the gears 85 andv 86' are slidably keyed to the input' shaftB and may. be formed as a single gear cluster. Indeedigears` 87| and' 82.may be formed as a cluster. The shaft 90,1is to be held in adjusted` position for whichpurposes it is provided with two grooves I95 and 96. for cooperation `with a spring pressed ballde-Lv tent'912 This detent arrangement holds the shaft in the two positions with the gears in mesh. In

an intermediate position the transmission l'may be in neutral. Where the gear shift transmis.- sion arrangement is to be employed lwith a franief` less trailer,` as illustrated in Fig. 8, the shaft is'lreversed soV that the handle is Positioned'oppo site that shown in Fig. 1l, and the detent' ari rangement will be set upto hold the gears in: proper position. 4'

In the operation of this construction," the;A movement of the adjustable'portions ofthe support may be given a relatively fast or arelativielylf,

slow action. The fast or high gear positionis"v shown in Fig. 11. For example, the 'supports'ma'y' be lowered from. their upper position with thefast action.v After the wheels strike the groundjt may be `desirable to provide a slight elevating,4 movement forthe trailer frame and' for this' 'purpose/,the transmission may be shifted to thelow. gear position with the gear 86 in mesh withfthef gear; 9 l. In elevating the support the fast or slow` action may b e used and this may be deterrriinedi by the particular operator. y

Also, Fig.l 9 is a varied `construction wherein, a cross brace |00 is weldedfto the fixed'.tubular;L leg'sect'ions 1. In addition, the ground engaging? Wheels I9 and '20-are journalled on a saddle stru ture IUI. This saddle structure has a pivotal" connection |92 with the lower end of 'the support',1

leg. It will 'be noted that thispivotal connection... i

is depressed or lowered. In this connection thisf form oiground engaging wheel arrangement may", be usedwith a drop frame trailer.; that is; .vvhereQv the frame of the trailer drops orbendsdown fromf theelevatioin at the tractor to a location closerl to theground. However, either formof ground., engagingwheel mounting may beusedimany., form `of the .-leg construction.

1v. In a support forasemi-trailer, ahollow penleg section xedly secured .to the semiftrailer.. and depending therefrom, an adjustable lower leg 7 section having telescoping engagement with the xed leg section and having ground engaging means at its lower end, a screw depending within a hollow fixed leg section, operating means for turning the screw, the adjustable leg section being in the form of a tube, said tube having oppositely disposed apertures therein, a internally threaded nut extending across the interior of the hollow tube and having its end portions situated in said apertures, the nut being in threaded engagement with the screw, and a loose washer-like member resting upon the nut and through which the'screw passes, said washer-like member having an operating clearance with respect to the screw and with respect to the inner wall surfaces of the hollow leg section to thereby hold the nut and screw against lateral displacement. 2. In a support for a semi-trailer, a fixed leg section secured to the semi-trailer and depending therefrom, an adjustable leg section telescopingly intertted with the xed leg section, means for shifting the adjustable leg section to raise and lower the same, said adjustable leg section having ground engaging means on its lower end, the

ball positioned in said recess and engaging in the groove of the adjustable leg section to key the leg sections together and provide a substantially anti-friction action in their relative movement, and means for holding the nut in adjusted position in the threaded aperture.

3. In a support fora semi-trailer, a supporting leg operable for movement to and from supportingk position, ground engaging means on the lower end of the supporting leg comprising, a housing on the lower end of the leg, a block of rubber positioned in said housing and having an aperture extending therethrough, an axle extending through the said aperture and engaged by the rubber block, a ground engaging element positioned at opposite ends of the axle, the housing having enlarged apertures providing a clearance relative to the axle whereby the axle may shift` angularly for adjustment of the elements to ground irregularities, the exterior surfaces of the housing around said apertures being substantially of asection of aA sphere, and a washer-like member'on the axle adjacent each aperture and hav- Ia'recessed face formed substantially as a secti nof a sphere for engaging the adjacent surface of the housing to close the aperture.

4. In a support 4for a semi-trailer, a supporting leg 'operable for movement to and from supportingposition, ground engaging means on the lower end of the supporting leg comprising, a housing onfgthe lower end of the leg, a block of rubber positioned in said housing and having an. aperture Aextending therethrough, an axle ex tending through 'the said aperture and engaged bythe rubber block, a ground engaging element. positioned at opposite ends of the axle, the housing'fhaving enlarged apertures providing a clearance 'relative to the axle whereby the axle may' shift angularly for adjustment of the elements toground irregularities, the exterior surfaces of' thehousing around said apertures being sub-A stantially of a section of a sphere, and af washerlike member on the axle adjacent each aperture and5 having a recessed face formed substantially" asa *section* of a sphere for engaging the adjacent n block positioned fin' the housing and having an aperture therethrough, a`v tubular `axle extending through saidaperture','= the housinghaving relatively enlarged apertures `to 'provide 'a clearance relative tothe'axle,"thelexterior 'surface of the housing around each aperture-l being formed as a part'of4 thesphere, `a wheel on each end of the axle,-eachwheel having a-hlub,la/washer positioned between eachlwheel hub and said housing end tightly' engaging the axlegfeach of said washers having a concavedsurface of partly spherical formv for'fengagin'g the `exterior surface of thc housing to."closefthe-'apertures inthe housing, and securing means extendinglfthrough the hol-- low axle and engaging the outside portions of Ieach w-lieel'tov hold 'the' wheels on the axle and to hold the hubs thereof against said washers whereby the washers are held in engagement with the housing. Y

6. In a support for a semi-trailer, a leg` structure comprising, a fixed-leg section, said fixed leg section having an upper housing part in the .fform of acasting adapted to beI secured to the :semi-trailer, a lower sleeve'part inthe form of a (casting having axially spaced internal bearing :surfaces located respectively adjacent vopposite ends of the sleeve part, a tubular intermediate part having its ends secured to said upper and llower parts, a tubular adjustable leg section, said adjustable leg section being telescopingly received in and having a sliding Arelationship with said internal bearing surfaces of the lower sleeve p art and said adjustable leg section adapted to telescope within the tubular intermediate part of the lxed leg section and having clearance with respect to the interior wall surfaces of the intermediate tubular parta screw depending within the xed leg section, means within the housing part for turning the screw, .a nut carried by the adjustable leg section which .is internally threaded and in engagement with the screw and ground engaging means on the lower end of the adjustable leg section.

` CARL G. SEYFERTH.

.REFERENCES CITED The following references 'are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED` STATES PATENTS 

